A/N: Once again, the lyrics are from "Holy Water" by Big & Rich. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Please review, I crave feedback! And this chapter wouldn't turn out exactly the way I wanted it to, I guess because I was exposed to a similar situation this weekend. Anyway, feel free to leave some constructive criticism to help me out.

A/N2: This is where the adult situations come into play, but there's nothing really graphic that would warrant a rating change (I think).

Holy Water: Chapter 2

Tony drove her home in silence but held her hand the entire time. It was a small comfort that Kate was grateful for. She hadn't wanted to go back home but she wasn't afraid now that Tony would be there. She'd worried the entire time he'd been getting their stuff and talking to Gibbs that he wouldn't be able to come and that she'd have to go home alone. After what had happened this morning she didn't think she could have done that. She'd been so relieved when he'd appeared with their bags in his hand that she'd wanted to jump into his arms, but she still wasn't ready to admit how much his being here meant to her.

As they got closer to home she had a new set of worries to deal with. She knew now that she would have to tell Tony something. There'd be no escaping it, and she couldn't really lie to him. It wouldn't be fair after how nice he'd been. Besides, it had felt too nice and safe in his arms. She selfishly wanted that feeling back, wanted him to keep the bad things at bay. She wouldn't like it, but she had to tell him.

They pulled into her parking spot and silently entered her building. She hesitated a moment at her door and Tony immediately picked up on her apprehension. He shot her a questioning look but she quickly unlocked the door before he could say anything. She took a deep breath as she opened the door, and then froze when she saw a white envelope resting on the hardwood floor.

Tony followed her gaze to the envelope and immediately noticed the name. Katie was scrawled in black ink, and suddenly certain things began to make sense. He placed a hand on the small of her back in an attempt to offer support and she immediately leaned back, sinking into his arms. She turned around and buried her head beneath his neck.

"He's back." It was barely a whisper but Tony still caught her words and squeezed her tighter. He still didn't know what was going on, but he knew they shouldn't be standing in the hall. He took a step and Kate moved with him until the door was shut and locked behind them.

"Shh. It's all going to be okay. We're going to get you out of here, okay?" He felt her nod against his chest. "I want you to pack a bag. We're going to go back to my place and then you can tell me everything, okay?" He felt her nod again but she made no move to let go, not that he really wanted her to but he didn't want them to be here any longer than they had to be. He took a step towards the hallway and once again Kate moved with him. They walked down the hall and into her bedroom as one, totally in sync, before Kate finally had to let go so she could pack.

Five minutes later, she had everything she needed. Tony grabbed the letter and then wrapped an arm around her as the left her apartment. He was extremely vigilant as the locked up and went back to the car, looking for anyone who might be following them. He didn't see anything suspicious but he still felt totally uneasy. He kept an eye trained on the rearview mirror and Kate's hand in his as he drove to his apartment.

Only when they were safely inside his apartment did he begin to relax. He ushered Kate to the couch then excused himself to turn on the coffee pot. He put Kate's bag in his room while he was waiting for the coffee. When it was finally ready he poured two cups and returned to Kate's side. She sipped the coffee slowly before finally turning her attention to the man beside her who clearly wanted answers.

"Kate, I need you to tell me everything." She nodded, but didn't say anything. After a minute, he opened his mouth to tell her it was okay but she beat him to it.

"It started a long time ago, my senior year of high school. I'd always been friends with guys but never anything more." She started out slowly. He could tell how painful it was for her and he placed his hand on hers to remind her that he was there, that it was okay. She took a deep breath and continued. "Then Greg showed up. He was 21 and treated me like no guy ever had. He told me I was beautiful and amazing and he made me feel good about myself. Then he got really possessive really fast. We weren't even dating but he'd go ballistic when I hung out with my other guy friends. Then he'd apologize and say he hadn't meant anything by it. I let it go. I believed him because…"

She paused, clearly struggling with the memory. "I thought he was my chance at love, because no one had ever been interested in me that way. I didn't know what I was doing but I trusted him. He was my first kiss, but it didn't feel all magical the way you always hear it does. Still, I convinced myself that he was amazing and that everything was great. Then he started making comments about me. He kept putting me down and saying things he knew would hurt me and kill my self-esteem."

The tears that had been threatening to overflow finally did, silently streaming down her cheek. Tony hated seeing her like this. He reached up and brushed the tears away with his thumbs, but they just kept coming. He scooted closer and wrapped an arm around her. She slid into his embrace and dropped her head to his shoulder.

After a moment, she continued. "I let it all go because I didn't want to lose the one person I thought loved me, and he was so nice most of the time. Then, one night, everything changed. He was leaving the next day to visit his family so I told my parents I was staying at a friend's house and went to say goodbye. We were just supposed to watch TV and make out a little. I told him I didn't want to yet but…"

Someone ran away with her innocence

A memory she can't get out of her head

I can only imagine what she's feeling when she's praying

Kneeling at the edge of her bed

She started bawling again and Tony knew what was coming next. He really wanted to kill this bastard now. She trudged through the rest of the story through her tears, knowing that she had to get it out. "He said he'd waited long enough and I don't know exactly how it happened. Suddenly I was staring at the ceiling and hoping he'd get done soon. I didn't know what to do. I left the next morning and the next time he called I told him it was over, but he just laughed. He said that I was his now even though I was totally pathetic, but not to worry because he'd teach me everything I needed to know."

He could hear the fear in her voice as she relieved the horrible memories. "I was so scared, but I couldn't tell anyone. He came back and everything happened again, only worse. He didn't have to pretend to be the nice guy anymore. He'd use me and then tell me how horrible I was, that I was his realistic blow up doll. He'd make me do things and hit me if I didn't do it right. It went on for two months. I ran as soon as graduation was over. I didn't even bother to change out of my cap and gown. I had everything in my car and I ran away as fast as I could before he could catch on. I started taking summer classes at a community college but he found me. I ended up in the hospital with a concussion, and a cracked rib that punctured my lung, not to mention a lot of bruises. He told me I was his property and that I'd never escape him."

And she says take me away

Then take me farther

Surround me now

And hold, hold, hold me like holy water

"He hauled me back home. I ran again and he found me. This time he broke my leg so I couldn't run again. I took all my money and bought a ticked to D.C. as soon as the cast came off and joined the Secret Service. I didn't hear a word for almost a year and I thought I was safe. I made some friends and quit looking over my shoulder. I became really good friends with a guy named Mark who made me forget about the bad stuff for awhile. We were watching movies one night when there was a knock at the door. It was Greg. He knocked me to the floor and Mark tried to help, but Greg pulled a gun and shot out his knee."

"I begged Greg to stop but he kicked me, cracked another rib, and told me to shut up. He said he was going to show me that I was his and only his, and that no other guy way allowed to touch me. Mark was screaming in pain on the ground and Greg walked over and shot out his other knee. I tried to stop him but he hit me with the gun and I ended up on the ground next to Mark. Then he walked over and put the gun to Mark's head. He screamed at me to watch, to see what was going to happen all because of me. I didn't want to see and I kept begging him to stop, but he pulled the trigger anyway. Then the cops came busting through the door and it was over."

She completely broke down, but through the racking sobs he heard her repeating, "It's all my fault. It's all my fault. Oh God, it's all my fault."

"Shh. It's all over. It wasn't you're fault, it was his." He tried to calm her but he knew it was no use. He let her cry, slowly rubbing her back in an attempt to offer some comfort. He couldn't believe she'd been through all that and he'd never had a clue. He mentally smacked himself for all the stupid jokes he'd made.

She wants someone to call her angel

Someone to put the light back in her eyes

She's looking through the faces

And unfamiliar places

She needs someone to hear her when she cries

Finally, her sobs quieted. She was spent, completely cried out. She kept her head snuggled against his chest. "I found a letter on my car today. It said Katie and I knew it was him. He was the only one who ever called me Katie." Her voice was muffled against his chest.

"What did it say?" He absently stroked her hair.

"That I was still his and he was watching me." He couldn't see the single tear slide down her cheek. So much for being totally cried out.

"You're staying with me until we can find this guy. I'm not letting you out of my sight, got it?" He felt her nod. "I'm going to get the note we found. You don't have to read it if you don't want to, but we have to know what's in it. Then I think we should call Gibbs." He rushed to continue before she could object. "He doesn't need to know the story, just that this guy is dangerous and he's obsessed with you. He'd be able to able to help us. Is that okay with you?"

She just needs a little help

To wash away the pain she's felt

She wants to feel the healing hands

Of someone who understands

She was silent for a minute, considering her options. "I need to see the note. After that, you can call Gibbs. Just don't tell him everything. You're the only one I've ever told, besides the cops. I don't want him to know."

As much as he hated what she'd been through, he still felt a sense of pride that he was the only person she'd confided in. "I promise. I'm not going to do anything that you don't want me to. The last thing I want to do is hurt you." He kissed the top of her head because it just felt right, then slowly stood up even though he hated losing the feel of her. He returned a moment later with the ominous white envelope.